Opinions on Breastfeeding in Public

Picture this, you’re strolling through the mall and to your left you see a woman sat on a bench cradling her baby...except the baby is feeding on the mother’s breast. How do you feel about that?

This past week, in my reporting class, I was asked to go create a vox pop (basically comments from the public) about their opinions on women breastfeeding in public, because where I am studying, Salford, England, has a charity called B.O.O.B.S that supports women to be comfortable breastfeeding, even in public settings. As I suspected, the people I talked to all said that it doesn’t bother them at all, but I did receive one response that surprised me. The way in which one woman answered me was (and I’m paraphrasing here) ‘No it doesn’t bother me. I don’t see it as a current problem, and don’t think has been for a while.’ I interpreted this as her having a sort of condescending tone in her voice, as if she was really thinking ‘Why are you asking people about this? Everyone accepts it, who cares?’, but this struck my curiosity, is it really comfortable for everyone? So I tested my theory through Instagram and Twitter polls.

The results of the polls clearly show that women breastfeeding in public is widely accepted, but there still are people that don’t necessarily approve of it or feel like it depends on the situation. So, I asked people that took part in the polls why they answered the way that they did.

Makes them uncomfortable: “It makes me feel uncomfortable because I do not want to see another woman’s boob. I am the first one to say, if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, but I don’t think it is always appropriate to just whip out your boob. Women can always pump too. If a woman is covered up, then I am totally cool with it. It is a very important bonding experience for both mother and baby, and I just feel that it is more of an intimate thing that should be done in privacy. I do not have kids yet, but I do not think I would be comfortable breastfeeding in public. Maybe if I had one of those scarves or blankets, I would feel more comfortable.” -Female, 21

It depends on the situation: “I'm totally good with the idea of women should be allowed to breastfeed in public, it's natural and they're just feeding their kid. However in certain settings like say, a restaurant, where food and drinks are being served, doing that flat out at the table makes me uncomfortable because food handling and food service have health codes and to me, that just makes me uncomfortable. But a woman should have every right to feed their child with a bottle as they do with their boob, I just get weird in restaurants.” -Female, 21

Totally comfortable: "I do not mind breastfeeding at all in public because I think there is an international stigma about it which needs to be gotten over. It is one of the most natural things a woman can do and the benefits to the child are vast, which is another reason I am all for it. I think mothers should breastfeed their children if possible and the declining or low rates of breastfeeding may be due in part to this stigma." -Male, 21

My opinion you ask? Generally, I am completely comfortable with it. If a woman is lucky enough to be able to breastfeed her baby (not every woman actually can), she should be able to do so wherever/whenever she and the baby please to. It’s completely natural, and NEWS FLASH that’s actually why women have breasts. But, if it does make you uncomfortable, I can understand that too, because in reality it still is a form of public nudity (except it has a crucial purpose). Either way, a baby needs to be fed when it’s hungry and if that means it’s while they’re out it public, so be it, if it bothers you then just look away.

It's Time To Thank Your First Roommate

Nostalgic feelings have recently caused me to reflect back on my freshman year of college. No other year of my life has been filled with more ups and downs, and highs and lows, than freshman year. Throughout all of the madness, one factor remained constant: my roommate. It is time to thank her for everything. These are only a few of the many reasons to do so, and this goes for roommates everywhere.

You have been through all the college "firsts" together.

If you think about it, your roommate was there through all of your first college experiences. The first day of orientation, wishing you luck on the first days of classes, the first night out, etc. That is something that can never be changed. You will always look back and think, "I remember my first day of college with ____."

You were even each other's first real college friend.

You were even each other's first real college friend.

Months before move-in day, you were already planning out what freshman year would be like. Whether you previously knew each other, met on Facebook, or arranged to meet in person before making any decisions, you made your first real college friend during that process.

The transition from high school to college is not easy, but somehow you made it out on the other side.

It is no secret that transitioning from high school to college is difficult. No matter how excited you were to get away from home, reality hit at some point. Although some people are better at adjusting than others, at the times when you were not, your roommate was there to listen. You helped each other out, and made it through together.

Late night talks were never more real.

Remember the first week when we stayed up talking until 2:00 a.m. every night? Late night talks will never be more real than they were freshman year. There was so much to plan for, figure out, and hope for. Your roommate talked, listened, laughed, and cried right there with you until one of you stopped responding because sleep took over.

You saw each other at your absolute lowest.

It was difficult being away from home. It hurt watching relationships end and losing touch with your hometown friends. It was stressful trying to get in the swing of college level classes. Despite all of the above, your roommate saw, listened, and strengthened you.

...but you also saw each other during your highest highs.

After seeing each other during the lows, seeing each other during the highs was such a great feeling. Getting involved on campus, making new friends, and succeeding in classes are only a few of the many ways you have watched each other grow.

There was so much time to bond before the stresses of college would later take over.

Freshman year was not "easy," but looking back on it, it was more manageable than you thought at the time. College only gets busier the more the years go on, which means less free time. Freshman year you went to lunch, dinner, the gym, class, events, and everything else possible together. You had the chance to be each other's go-to before it got tough.

No matter what, you always bounced back to being inseparable.

Phases of not talking or seeing each other because of business and stress would come and go. Even though you physically grew apart, you did not grow apart as friends. When one of you was in a funk, as soon as it was over, you bounced right back. You and your freshman roommate were inseparable.

The "remember that one time, freshman year..." stories never end.

Looking back on freshman year together is one of my favorite times. There are so many stories you have made, which at the time seemed so small, that bring the biggest laughs today. You will always have those stories to share together.

The unspoken rule that no matter how far apart you grow, you are always there for each other.

It is sad to look back and realize everything that has changed since your freshman year days. You started college with a clean slate, and all you really had was each other. Even though you went separate ways, there is an unspoken rule that you are still always there for each other.

Your old dorm room is now filled with two freshmen trying to make it through their first year. They will never know all the memories that you made in that room, and how it used to be your home. You can only hope that they will have the relationship you had together to reflect on in the years to come.

Beautiful: Nine Letters, Infinite Meanings

While anxiously waiting for my show to turn back on during a commercial break, one commercial specifically caught my eye. It starting out with a blonde-haired woman, standing proud with a noticeable scar down her nose. As they flip to some clips of a diverse set of women, a power voice begins to speak. The first line immediately took hold of my attention.

"Beautiful, one word that holds the weight of thousands. We collect false promises, contorting ourselves to fit inside those letters"

The commercial captures a diverse set of women as they confidently exemplify their own beauty in a day to day setting. In doing so, they are encouraging individuals to redefine what beauty really is, in this case, through appearance. Macy's is sending the message to their buyers that their products provide individuals the opportunity to express themselves in whatever way they want with their new spring collection. By going beyond the boundaries that are socially installed our expectations are expanded.

As silly as it sounds, the Macy's advertisement made me think. It made me think of the concept of beauty, and how we perceive it.

Beauty to us is a social construct. You scroll through your feed of bronzed, tall and thin figures and you are fed to think that she is the one and only form of beauty worth striving for. You look in the mirror and pick out your flaws and imperfections thinking that it lessens your beauty. We are taught to believe that beautiful has one meaning and that definition cannot stray from the cover of a magazine.

But in reality, Beauty is fluid. It is what you want it to be. It is an appearance. It is a perception. It is imperfect.